Car break-in in front of my building (15th St. btw 5th

It's 1 AM, and some dude just smashed the passenger side window on a car in front of my building, took something from the car and ran away. My husband saw it happen and we called the cops, and now they've come and are doing cop stuff.

Mainly it's just going to be a pain for the people who own the car, no one was hurt, but should we have, like, leapt to the rescue in some fashion? Executed a citizen's arrest? Lassoed him? I grew up in rural suburbia. Once a cow escaped and was walking down the street and we called the Lenti farm and told them to get their cow. (Hmm, maybe we should have lassoed the cow.)

Anyway, educate me. Calling the cops and answering questions when they came was the proper and adequate response, right?

Yep. I suppose you could also get a photo of the guy if you're really quick. But that's tough. You did the smart, correct thing - I think.

in the 80's we used to chase thieves in bensonhurst and other areas(safe areas) if you saw someone do something illegal.

but these days you don't know what the crazy kids are carrying. plus back then you know which people who didn't belong in the area. it was a much more segregated place back then.

You did the right thing.

You did the right thing. Some people wouldn't even have called the police.

Subject: Re: Car break-in in front of my building (15th St. btw 5th &

lnelson wrote:
Anyway, educate me. Calling the cops and answering questions when they came was the proper and adequate response, right?

You did more than most people do! You did your civic duty. Nobody wants you to tackle the guy and put yourself at risk.

Reminds me of when my boyfriend at the time slept over. Car was parked right outside my window (2nd floor). I heard the glass break, got out of bed to see some kid stealing the radio and my leftover japanese food I accidentally left in the car. So, as I'm watching I'm calling 911. I wanted to yell to the thief that I was calling the cops, but I was nervous that he'd know exactly where I lived (my window was right there), so I didn't. Meanwhile, my wimp of a boyfriend is just standing there watching it all go down.

Cops come and asked for a description: "black hoodie, jeans, sneakers....the muthafucka eating japanese food right now!!!!"

I was in labor and my Mother's car was parked outside of my apartment on 7th Avenue and 16th. When it was time to go to the hospital, we went outside to go get into the car and found that the passenger side window was smashed (those were the days when people still stole radios).